Saturday, June 29, 2013

Well, hello family! Wow, I can’t
believe that summer is like basically half way through!

And yes, I am so sad about the NBA
finals. A bunch of members were rubbing it in my face.. sad. But
whatever!

K, first of all. that date idea is
awesome! Soooo soo awesome! Darin you guys are halarious!

The week.

Well unfortunately, the week was not
very good. because I was sick! Actually, the whole house was! Serious colds
going around. Probably because its "cold" outside. Hahah, but yeah, I
was in the house for 3 days and the other days I was on divisions and the work
didn’t go that well because we were still pretty much sick. But on the bright
side we have a baptism on Saturday, her name is Scorina. She has been coming to
church for like 2 years now and her time has finally come! And Rita’s family...
they may or may not be getting baptized this Saturday. Rita isn’t but her kids
might. Rita isn’t ready for baptism. But one day. I’ve been talking to her at
church, and I got her to read the Book of Mormon again. I kinda have a contest
with her. Haha. What else.

Transfers came in and I’m staying in
Benfica again, and with Elder Brown again; 3rd transfer with him. Good thing we
get along great! Haha sooo last week, Harper and I contacted this girl and mom
and the girl was like way gorgeous, we call them mulatas. They’re half black
and half white. Anyway, we left and I told Harper, I can’t teach her. She’s too
pretty. And he’s like “suck it up, Elder.” So then, I didn’t really do much
trying to “pass by and teach her”, but quite honestly, we just don’t put our
focus there. But then on Saturday I was on a division with Elder Hobbs and we
saw her on the street. So we did kinda a follow up contact. And then I just
invited her to church. But then Elder Hobbs was like, "you’re going to be
at church right? Right?!" Kind of demanding it out of her, cause that’s
kind of what we have to do with Angolans, and she’s like, “yes.” So Sunday
morning comes and I get a phone call and it’s her asking if she can still come
to church and asks for the directions and so I gave them to her and then she
showed up! I was impressed cause she was really, really modest in her dress,
and I was like, wow! That’s impressive, so I sat her right next to Mila, an
awesome girl in our branch, and I basically told them that they were going to
be friends. and they were best friends for the rest of church! And then the
girl (oh her name is yola btw) was making friends with all the youth in our
branch! I was like sick. And then a member that we had lunch with told me that
she was asking great questions in class and was very interested. And I was like
sweet! So future baptism right there with a family too. Oh, and I told Harper,
the only reason that I would teach her is because she was being taught by the
JWs and I won’t let one soul go into that church... haha.

Speaking of which! we had some JWs
knock on our door one morning as we were doing studies! Haha it was way funny.
They asked me if I wanted to know what happens after this life and I said no
because I already know what happens and then Elder Brown and I just laid down
the plan of salvation right there! haha pretty funny. (There was only a little
bit of Bible bashing..... )but yeah, they just don’t understand the scriptures.
They are basically like the pharises in the time of Jesus.

Funny story about Lucas. At church he
asked me if I had a tie to give him. I told him I didn’t have any ties that
small. And then he’s like “well then, buy one! “hahaha He is so much like
Hannah and Darin put together. And then he went even further. He’s like, “actually,
I want a white shirt and pants and a name tag and a back pack too! hahaha he
wants to be a missionary. Then outside the church he told everyone that he was
the boss of all the missionaries! Haha but then he told everyone that I’m his
favorite missionary. hahahaha Oh I love that kid sooooo much! I’m going to come
back and baptize him one day. Well that was basically my week! President Merril
(Our Own Mission President) finally comes this week and hallaluha! I’m excited Angola..yeah!

Well, love you all! Sounds like you are
going to be having a lot of fun this week! and Kistie I got your letter! Thank
you! ~

Com amor,

Elder Tingey

Oh, I forgot to say! Elder Mariquele
found an ipad in our yard!!! And it worked! And it was blank! Swear it’s a
Liahona!

Baptism!

Elder Lucas, My Man!!!

My AP, Elder Mariquele

Dinner, Our House

Caterpillar Casserole?!

I'm not feelin' so good!

ugh!

The Week

June 17, 2013

Okay family.

YOU’VE FAILED ME! I had to depend on an
Angolan to show me Apple’s new software! And it’s beautiful! BEAUTIFUL!

Okay, done with that.

Anyway, hello! hahaha sounds like it
was a good week for you guys! It was a GREAT week for me! Freaking awesome!
Yeah good week. Where to start...

So I had a division with Elder Harper
this week. Stud missionary. Haha I’ve never seen someone so focused haha! It’s
quite funny actually, cause he leaves in 10 days. But it was a good learning
experience. And we had a sweet lesson that day about the restoration and the
spirit was so strong and I gave the account of the first vision and then bore
my testimony on it which was super heartfelt btw. And the spirit was so strong!
And then they asked me how I knew. How I could say it with such conviction? Oh,
I love that question!!! It’s like you get to bear your testimony all over again
about how they can get a testimony! So that was a really good lesson.

Then Elder Brown and I were knockin’
doors making contacts. And we got a return appointment with this one lady. So
we’re like okay sweet we’ll come back later that night. So we go do a lesson,
which went awesome. About prayer. We totally didn’t plan to have it on prayer
but Elder Brown and I both felt that it needed to be on prayer right after we
said the opening prayer. Which was way cool because we didn’t even talk to each
other or anything! The Spirit just prompted us both and we both started talking
about prayer! Way cool how the Spirit works and then we went back to the return
appointment where we found... THE MOST AWESOME PERFECT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FAMILY!!
(angels singing "ahhhh!") it was sweet. So we started talking about the
restoration and our message and how it’s centered on families. I started off
and then handed it off to Elder Brown to explain some more and he started to
talk but then he couldn’t. I thought
he was just trippin’ on Portuguese, so iIwas like, “say to me in English and
I’ll help you” and he’s like, “I can’t even say it in English, there is
literally a block in my mind. So he’s like “Elder Tingey, you’re going to have
to go on. So I took over again and told about the restoration very quickly and
started to testify about it. Then the father asked me if I would bear my
testimony to him. He’s like, “I want your testimony bourn to me.” So I was like,
heck yeah I will! so I bore my freaking legit awesome testimony (hahaha) and
the spirit was soooooo sooo strong! It was just great. When we left their house
I was just soo soo excited I couldn’t help my self! I wanted to just scream! I
was like jumping and you know how I get when I get super excited. (ie when I got
my mission call, when my mom gets me the coolest presents like Jason Aldean
tickets) anyway it was just Sick!

And then! On Saturday I got to baptize
Arnaldo and Amarildo (Usher) which was way cool cause they are both my former
investigators that moved into different elders boundaries and they still chose
me to baptize them! I was honored! And no offense to English but the baptismal
prayer is soo much cooler in Portuguese than in English! So that was way cool.

I kinda got frustrated on Sunday cause
none of our investigators came to church except one. Scorina. She’s a moca. Count
your many blessings right? Little by little they’ll come along. Transfers are
next week. che! I hope I go to Cassquel. I want to be in the city. But yeah.

Funny time! A hooker tried to flirt
with me on the bus last night. Hahahaha and she asked for my number, so I gave
her the AP’s number. hahahahaha! That was funny! Oh, and then yesterday we had
a legit crazy man come to the church and he wanted to live there. Then he
followed the missionaries home... hahaha way funny. Crazy people. Don’t do
drugs or drink people! It’ll mess you up!

So I’ve conducted a little experiment
out here; strictly for the knowledge of the general public of course. And in
the course of conducting this experiment (I only do it for 2.5 seconds at a
time. cause if you do it for 3 seconds you’re messed. And I don’t actually plan
to do these experiments they just kind of happen.) but I have come to the
conclusion that.... jungle fever is a real thing (not saying I have it. but
it’s real) It’s just a fact. Not an opinion. Straight up fact!
hahahahahahahahaahahah! I’m such a dork!

Anyway, I hope you have a great week!
oh wait! If you have any Country Christmas music, please send it to me. via
email or dropbox. Thank you!

its okay people. its okay. shhh.
everything will be alright. yesterday i got on to email and 15 min in the
server for the whole city went down. sooo we couldnt email. dont worry i still
love you all! and im emailing today. so goodmorning :)

Hello familia! Whats up! So
first things first, mom it’s okay if there’s not stuff on the memory cards
and sticks. Whatever, I just want them. Yes, perfect, the 32 gig cards and
then two thumb drives. Perfect. I don’t think they will open it if you send it
in the small ones like you have been doing. Just send like a t-shirt too and
wrap those in the t-shirt. Yeah, send some cash in between the cards. I was
thinking about that this week. And President Kretly talked about how we need to
have a reserve fund. So yeah. Btw, I got your package of the spices this week.
Thank you. But now, don’t send anymore spices. I’m good. And I also got letters
from the Beehives (thank you!) and from Troy. Troy you rock! Seriously, like
best writer ever. How’s the job situation? And you have the cutest family ever!
You look like such a happy father! I can’t wait! Haha and yes, for sure about
living by you because of a (something, something) haha I’m down.

Catie!! Ha! Salt lake! Dang that girl
hasn’t written me once on the mission! Somebody find out her and Brooke and Emmy’s
emails. They all told me that they were going on missions but idk what happened
after that!

Ha, mom you are so cool! You watched
all the Fast and Furious with Darin! Wow. Haha Elder Brown and I saw the movie
poster for the new one. It looked cool and so did the one for The Lone Ranger.
You are such a cool mom. But yeah, Darin you better read a ton of scriptures
after that. I’m scared to watch movies when I get home. I think I’m going to
invest in Clearplay. Seriously.

Dad have you heard of Continental
Outdoor or Big Media? Those are the big billboard companies here. And wow, they
are exploding. I’m seeing new billboards pop up all the time!

Okay so my week. Wel,l President
Kretly came this week and we had an all day training on Friday and then on
Saturday we had baptisms and such. Brazilians….. idk about them. Haha no jk. It’s
so difficult being on the other side of the continent and and trying to run
things over here. Let’s just say its not working out that great. It’s actually
quite a long story that I will tell you when I get home. But the Brazilian
couples fed us after the trying and we all got sick that night. Everyone. Same
thing happened last zone conference when they cooked. Sooo yeah. I think Sister
Kretly got kinda upset at that. Well,
Elder Brown and I have a new fire in us and we found like 5 families to
teach in one night. It was sick. Although I think I’m ready to go to a new
area. Eventhough I love Benfica.

Funny story time!! So we’re contacting
and we were walking and everything was going great. I’m happy, the people are
happy, and were contacting the houses down by the coast. And this one guy was
outside his house and I smile and waved and said tudo bem?! (the most common
Portuguese phrase ever… ) and he flipped! He started yelling at me and telling
me that tudo bem is for kids and all this and did he look like a kid. Blah blah
blah. He’s like “am I older than you? Am i?” and I was like yes… and then he’s
like then you show me some respect!! Like just went off on me. Elder brown is
just sitting there like oh che. Haha and I was like but everyone says tudo bem
don’t they and he was convinced that it was just for kids(and this guy wasn’t
even like well-off or anything. And he was like 30 yrs old max) anyway I told
him sorry and to have a great day. Then I walked away.. but man, if I wasn’t a
missionary I would have laid some Portuguese throwdowns on that guy! Oh I was
restraining myself sooo much. I wanted to just rip into him and tell him he was
a stupid Angolan who didn’t know Portuguese. That’s pretty common of them
actually. They don’t speak it right. But I didn’t. So I guess this story is for
Darin. HahHhahahaahahaha!

Another funny story. We were at Irma Dove’s
house. She is a great member whose story is amazing. She is a champ. Anyway her
“kids” were playing in the dirt and then they started to jump on us and get our
clothes all dirty and she got mad at them and told them that we had to wash our
clothes all by ourselves. Haha and her oldest son started telling his sister
“yeah they don’t have a woman to do it for them!” hahaahahaha it was sooooo
funny everyone just busted up.

Spiritual experience time. So Saturday
Elder Brown and I went out contacting. Our whole day had fallen through. Which
was way annoying. So we went to go see an old investigator. He wasn’t home. So
then we walked a little bit and didn’t know what to do so we asked each other.
Since both of us didn’t know what to do we knew we needed to pray. So we did. I
offered the prayer. As soon as I started to speak this guy came out of his
house and was like che como entao! I finished the prayer and then he’s like
were you praying for me?! Haha and were like yeah! So we talked to him and got
his contact info and what not and he’s got a family and all that jazz way
qualified. So then we walk around the corner and I get the ever so slightest
feeling/thought to knock on this door. Obviously, it was the spirit. So I
knocked on this door. And boom! Golden family, married, don’t have a church,
have cutest kids, good work, smart guy, wants the best for his family. I’m just
like oh my gosh, I have the best thing possible for your family!!! So anyway
from there on out we just found families after families that night. It was
Saturday so that helped. Haha one house had a ton of balloons so I was like oh
it must be a birthday. So I was like Elder Brown, go tell the person Happy Birthday
and he’s like idk they’re probably going to get mad. But I was like. no, come
on. Haha, turns out it was this man’s 2 years old’s bday. Haha She was so cute
and as we showed interest in them and excitement for the baby his heart was
softened and he invited us in to talk and have cokes! Legit huh? So people, the
Lord does answer prayers. Just remember to show your faith. How do you show
faith? By action!

Well, that’s pretty much my week…. We
went to the Reedy’s house today. An American family! Wow, I felt like I was in
the states again. It was weird. And I played basketball and freaking beasted.
Like holy cow unstoppable :)

Missionaries (elder Tingey) sang (country songs) as they
walked and walked and walked

Spin
from “Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked and Walked”

Oh my gosh. You are all at the cabin.
JEALOUS. mas tudo bem. I'm in Africa HA! Marissa thanks for all the videos and
the pics. You give me a little piece of home and I appreciate it! Man summer
has officially started for you guys! Ha-ha Darin I loved the story about the
teacher. Ha-ha way to be.... ha-ha except next time do it more nicely. But I know
you have a heart.

This week we walked bwe. That mans a
heck of a lot. So dang much. Basically cause our area tanked and all of our flipper
amazing investigators moved! Whatever, they're still on track for baptism. But
yeah this week was basically straight finding, which is probably the worst part
about missionary work. So you gotta make it fun some times. Like go in the
super markets and look for cool things. Super markets are gold mines here. That’s
where all the married are! So we go there and always get some good contacts.
"the grocery store" Best Two Years anyone? anyone?

Well, some cool things happened this
week I guess. Finally got to sit with the one guy named Valsco. I've been
trying to get a time with him for like a month. Finally was able to. His house is amazing. Huge swimming pool in the back yard
with a trampoline and I'm just like whoa.. haha you guys are like what...? I
know but to see that here in Angola you’re just like wow. And some crazy guy
started following us that said he could speak 6 languages but really he could
only speak... nada. Seriously though.

So needless to say... I gave the first
vision like a bazillion times this week. And I pray that each person I gave it
to will feel the spirit and act! Always remember to act peeps. Faith is where it’s
at. Belief and action. Speaking of action, we were at a member’s house for
lunch yesterday and they are just awesome. I love Sundays here because it’s
when we see the members!! Anyway, it was kinda weird because... well, we were
just in the presence of a family. Like a church family sealed in the temple and
what not. OH such a good feelin!!!! Like you have no idea. You don’t realize you
miss it until its gone! But yeah, so good. Anyway, I was talking about action. The
members are so awesome because they act. They try their best to fulfill their
calling and keep the church functioning and growing.

Hmm what else. The APs went to Huambo
for the weekend... so that's cool I guess. Well, that’s basically it folks! Stay
tuned for our next show on Monday next week. Previews coming up next: " A
missionary out in Africa, preaching the gospel (scenes of me walking in Africa,
talking to people with a bom (Book of Mormon) in my hand"), 5 people will
accept the invitation to baptism, but will they change their lives to prepare
for this grand experience? Tune in next Monday to find out" (next commercial)
hahaha that was fun. Okay love you all. How about you do a family writing while
your all together and then send me them in the mail. Yeah!! K love you all!